Maspin Expression In Cervical Cancer And Its Relationship With Microvessel Density, Microlymphatic Density

Objective:To study maspin protein and microvessel density(MVD),microlymphatic vessel density(MLVD) expression and their relevancy in tumorigenesis and progression of cervical carcinoma,and to elucidate the potential mechanism of the anti-cancer effect of maspin.Methods:Paraffin-embedded tissues from normal epithelium(n=10),cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN)(n=27),cervical cancer(n=62) were studied for Maspin by immunochemistry.Microvessel density(MVD) and microlymphatic density(MLVD) in cervical cancer was labeled using anti-CD34 antibody and D2-40 respectively.Maspin expression and MVD,MLVD were compared with clinical Parameters of tumors.The relationship between maspin and MVD,MLVD was concerned as well.Results:1.The positive rates of maspin expression were 100.00%,62.96%,38.71%in normal epithelium,cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) and cervical cancer respectively. The rate of expression reduced by degrees(P<0.05).The mean of MVD in normal epithelium(5.75±2.92),CIN(11.89±3.63) and cervical cancer(14.12±2.64) increased by degrees(P<0.05).The MLVD increased as well(1.29±1.94,3.78±2.91,8.82±.05)(P<0.05).2.Maspin expression showed significant negative association with FIGO staging,lymph node metastasis and differentiation(P<0.05),but not with histological types or patients'age(P>0.05).3.Peritumoral MLVD(8.82±3.05) was significantly higher than intratumoral MLVD (4.58±2.87)(P<0.05).High peritumoral MLVD showed significant association with high tumor stage,and nodal metastasis.Peritumoral MLVD and MVD in adencarcinoma was significantly higher than that in squamous cell carcinoma(P< 0.05).4.Among the cases of maspin-positive cervical cancer,the MVD was 13.23±2.39 and the peritumoral MLVD was 7.02±2.10,while the MVD and the peritumoral MLVD of maspin-negative cases were 15.34±1.82 and 9.85±3.17 respectively(P<0.05). Maspin expression showed significant negative association with MVD and MLVD(P <0.05).5.Peritumoral MLVD related to MVD significantly.Conclusions:1.Lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis are involved in tumoral growth and metastasis.2.Maspin plays the role of tumor suppressor gene to inhibit tumor growth,metastasis and invasion via its anti-angiogenic and anti-lymphangiogenesis effects.